Picking a bluing method. Need help

[MosinVirus]

Hello bluing experts,

I need your help in figuring out which way to proceed in re-bluing a Hi-Power pistol. I would like to get a high polish finish that has just a hint of blue color. Obviously looking for a durable finish.

Wife will not allow hot bluing in our place, so I was thinking of polishing the parts and then using the slow rust solution. Would this result in a satin surface?

Any advice on alternatives or on how to proceed?
Thank you.

[kcstott]

it will have a shine but not as much as you will start out with.

On a High power I'd send it off to Hot flash bluing and let them do it right.

Polishing is the hard part and if not done correctly no amount of professional blue is going to fix rounded corners and dished out holes

[MosinVirus]

Thanks Kcstott. What is Hot flash bluing? I have never heard of that.

Would you let the place that does this bluing also do the polishing, or do you recommend that I do the polishing myself to prevent rounding of corners and dishing the openings?

I am definitely more interested in doing the job myself, specifically both the bluing and the polishing, and since the pistol is FN made and wasn't expensive I would rather not put too much money into it. I would dump as much of my time into it though, since I really enjoy doing stuff like this.

[Gunsmith Dan]

It is the name of the company not a process.

If you want to have the same type of mirror polish as the original factory Browning Hi-Powers did Hot Caustic Bluing is the only way to get that.

Hot bluing just converts the surface metal where Slow Rust bluing actually etches into the metal's surface.

Of course don't be scared at the sticker shock as just the high mirror polish for a pistol can cost you several hundred dollars.

While you can do it yourself if you have no experience it is extremely difficult for someone to achive a perfect mirror polish without alot of practice first. That and the equipment and material will end up costing you more than having someone else do it. The average experienced polisher would take 6 to 8 hours to completely mirror polish the pistol and all the exterior parts. That and once you have taken to much metal away you can not put it back which besides rounded corners can affect tolerences and make the firearm not shoot correctly.

When talking mirror polish talking 600 grit or better where you actually and see a good reflection of your image, not just good reflection of light.

[kcstott]

What Dan said.

& Unless you know WTF you are doing with polishing you or anyone else can really screw it up. Once you get to that mirror level of polish any little imperfection will stick out like a sore thumb. if you polish in one area a little longer then another you will put a very minor depression in the steel. So slight the you may not be able to detect it with a dial indicator but once polished to a very high shine or minor finish you will see it and it will look a mile deep.

Did I mention that the flatness of surface plates is measured with a glass flat and a monochrome light. They use light to pick up the discontinuities in th surface. Reflected light leaves nothing to the imagination.

I also agree on the time and cost of a mirror job. it's huge

Hot Flash Refinishing
707 Bateman Rd
Whitmore, CA 96096
530-472-1802

[MosinVirus]

Thank you all for replying and the information.

I completely agree that the job is not easy, and that I would have been better off sending it elsewhere to be done by professionals. But this pistol is not expensive enough or have enough of collector's value to go that far.

I did put about 5 coats of Classic American Bluing Solution on mine after I polished it to 400 grit. I know it is not perfect, but I am happy with it. I am also pretty happy with the fact that I did it myself. I am not rebluing it to sell it, but to keep it and prevent further rusting.

Again, thank you for the information though. Once I have a pistol that is more valuable I would definitely follow your advice completely and have professionals do it.

[ElvenSoul]

Duracoat can come out real nice

[kcstott]

Thank you all for replying and the information.

I completely agree that the job is not easy, and that I would have been better off sending it elsewhere to be done by professionals. But this pistol is not expensive enough or have enough of collector's value to go that far.

I did put about 5 coats of Classic American Bluing Solution on mine after I polished it to 400 grit. I know it is not perfect, but I am happy with it. I am also pretty happy with the fact that I did it myself. I am not rebluing it to sell it, but to keep it and prevent further rusting.

Again, thank you for the information though. Once I have a pistol that is more valuable I would definitely follow your advice completely and have professionals do it.

That looks pretty good...

[stitchnicklas]

nice job

[MosinVirus]

Thank you.